PATCO plans to reopen Philadelphia's Franklin Square Station

The Delaware River Port Authority announced Wednesday plans are in the works to reopen the long-shuttered Franklin Square Station in Philadelphia. The last trains stopped there shortly after the bicentennial.

More information is expected to be delivered at the DRPA's meeting next month when the findings of a study will be revealed.

"The study will bear out that we anticipate that more people will in fact utilize Franklin Square than had in the past," DRPA CEO John Matheussen said. "There's more activity in the surrounding area, the Constitution Center, some new office buildings."

The project could cost between $5 million and $10 million. The station as it stands now, is basically the way it was left when it was put out of service. Fare signs reflect 1976 prices.

"The biggest thing is that it has to be ADA compliant because we closed it," DRPA Chairman John Esty said. "When we reopen it, we have to include elevators."

The board of PATCO also introduced plans to spend $9.6 million to revamp the line's subterranean stations The stations above ground were renovated six years ago.